SCHLIEREN AND SHADOWGRAPH TECHNIQUES: VISUALIZING PHENOMENA IN TRANSPARENT MEDIA, by Gary S. Settles, is now available (Springer-Verlag, Nov. 2001, 390 pages, Hardcover, ISBN 3-540-66155-7, countless black-and-white illustrations and 48 color plates, list price $89.95).
Description: Schlieren and shadowgraph techniques are basic and valuable tools in various scientific and engineering disciplines. They allow us to see the invisible: the optical inhomogeneities in transparent media like air, water, and glass that otherwise cause only ghostly distortions of our normal vision. These techniques are discussed briefly in many books and papers, but there is no up-to-date complete treatment of the subject before now. The book is intended as a practical guide for those who want to use these methods, as well as a resource for a broad range of disciplines where scientific visualization is important. The colorful 400-year history of these methods is covered in an extensive introductory chapter.
Keywords: Flow visualization, compressible flow, convection, schlieren optics, modelling, optics, microscopy, telescopes, optical shop testing, scientific visualization, ballistics, combustion, transparent media, optical instruments, photography, videography
Contents: Historical Background.- Basic Concepts.- Toepler's Schlieren Technique.- Large-Field and Focusing Schlieren Methods.- Specialized Schlieren Techniques.- Shadowgraph Techniques.- Practical Issues.- Setting Up Your Own Simple Schlieren and Shadowgraph System.- Applications.- Quantitative Evaluation.- Summary and Outlook.- References.- Appendix A Optical Fundamentals.- Appendix B The Schlieren System as a Fourier Optical Processor.- Appendix C Parts List for a Simple Schlieren/Shadowgraph System.- Appendix D Suppliers of Schlieren Systems and Components.- Index.- Color Plates.
Availability: In Europe and the East, see:
http://www.springer.de/cgi-bin/search_book.pl?isbn=3-540-66155-7
In the Western Hemisphere see:
http://www.springer-ny.com/detail.tpl?isbn=3540661557
The book is also available from the following bookstores, among others:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/3540661557/104-4460867-8998314
http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?isbn=3540661557
Updates and Corrections: For those who are interested, a Web page has been established with updates, errata, and an eventual FAQ at:
http://www.me.psu.edu/psgdl/correctionswebpage.html
Your questions and comments by email are welcome.
Reviews: Here is a sample of what your colleagues have said about the book:
"Many research papers and textbooks mention the technique but until Gary Settles' book appeared there was no standard account. Highly recommended."
-Peter Bradshaw, Stanford University
"The book is very detailed and comprehensive and even gives possible future directions to the topic."
-Leonard Weinstein, NASA Langley Research Center
"Really a great source of information and a pleasure to read."
-Harald Kleine, Australian Defence Force Academy
"...provides you with a systematic and straightforward discussion of the theory (Chapters 2 and 3), an overview of recent developments (Chapter 4) and an excellent practical guide (Chapters 7 and 8). This book should be in all fluid dynamics laboratories, but you will enjoy having your own copy."
-Mico Hirschberg, T.U. Eindhoven
"It is now THE best reference in the field."
-Tom Mueller, Notre Dame University
Library: Please consider asking your technical librarian to acquire this book